Homebrew AlternativesTop Package Managers & Software Installers like Homebrew

Homebrew is described as 'The easiest and most flexible way to install the UNIX tools Apple didn’t include with macOS. Also available for Linux' and is a very popular Package Manager in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Homebrew for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Web-based and Flatpak apps. The best Homebrew alternative is Chocolatey, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Homebrew are UniGetUI, Ninite, MacUpdater and Scoop.

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Homebrew alternatives are mainly Package Managers, but if you're looking for Software Installers or Software Updaters you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows and Mac. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Homebrew.
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Alternatives list

  1. Chocolatey icon

    Chocolatey

     344 likes
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    Windows-centric package manager streamlining software updates without registration. Privacy-focused, ad-free, open-source, lightweight, and supports a command-line interface for efficiency and ease of use.

    72 Chocolatey alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Chocolatey screenshot 1
     
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    1
    15
    Comments about Chocolatey as an Alternative to Homebrew
    Shaz Shah
    Positive
    0

    It is probably the closest you can get to a Homebrew experience as Chocolately does have a command line interface. It's not as elegant, but a very useful package manager to quickly setup new machines.

    Homebrew Icon
    Chocolatey icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Chocolatey is a great Homebrew alternative.

    • Chocolatey is the most popular Windows alternative to Homebrew.

    • Chocolatey is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Homebrew.

    • Chocolatey is Freemium and Open SourceHomebrew is Free and Open Source
    • Chocolatey is Privacy focusedHomebrew is not according to our users
  2. UniGetUI icon

    UniGetUI

     137 likes
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    Intuitive interface for managing software on Windows through WinGet, Scoop, Chocolatey, Pip, Npm, .NET Tool, and PowerShell Gallery. Offers bulk install, detailed metadata, custom options, auto-updates, tray notifications, filtering, backups, and restore features.

    21 UniGetUI alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Chocolatey
    UniGetUI screenshot 1
     
  4. Ninite icon

    Ninite

     676 likes
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    Ninite is the easiest way to install software. Pick the apps you want, and the Ninite installer will download and install all of your selected apps at once, automatically. It is 100% hands-free; Ninite automatically rejects browser toolbars and other prepackaged junk.

    76 Ninite alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Ninite screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Ninite as an Alternative to Homebrew
    RemovedUser
    Negative
    1

    Ninite won't give you access to hundreds of open source and CLI softwares like Homebrew does.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Homebrew Icon
    Ninite icon

    • Some users think Ninite is a great Homebrew alternative, some don't.

    • Ninite is Freemium and ProprietaryHomebrew is Free and Open Source
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Setapp icon
    Setapp

    Setapp provides a curated collection of commercial apps available through a low-cost subscription. Access to the apps is driven by a straight-forward local app that neatly organizes them in a searchable, filterable and configurab...

    https://setapp.com
    Learn More
  6. MacUpdater icon

    MacUpdater

     270 likes
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    MacUpdater is an application that can scan your Mac and display which of the apps that you have installed are not up-to-date. MacUpdater can also update those outdated apps to their newest versions with a simple click.

    17 MacUpdater alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    MacUpdater screenshot 1
     

    • MacUpdater is the most popular Mac alternative to Homebrew.

    • MacUpdater is the most popular commercial alternative to Homebrew.

    • MacUpdater is Paid and ProprietaryHomebrew is Free and Open Source
    • MacUpdater is Privacy focusedHomebrew is not according to our users
  8. Flatpak icon

    Flatpak

     68 likes
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    Distributing applications on Linux is a pain: different distributions in multiple versions, each with their own versions of libraries and packaging formats. Flatpak is here to change all that. It allows the same app to be installed on different Linux distributions, including...

    29 Flatpak alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Flatpak screenshot 1
     

    • Flatpak is the most popular Linux alternative to Homebrew.

    • Flatpak is Free and Open SourceHomebrew is also Free and Open Source
  11. Patch My PC icon

    Patch My PC

     126 likes
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    Patch My PC Home Updater is a free, user-friendly software designed to keep over 300 applications on your computer up-to-date. It automates the process of updating and installing apps, ensuring your system is secure and running smoothly without the hassle of manual updates1.

    68 Patch My PC alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Patch My PC screenshot 1
     
  12. Synaptic icon

    Synaptic

     178 likes
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    Synaptic is a graphical package management program for apt. It provides the same features as the apt-get command line utility with a GUI front-end based on Gtk+.

    56 Synaptic alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Debian
    • Xfce
    Synaptic screenshot 1
     
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    6
  13. Flathub icon

    Flathub

     47 likes
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    Flathub is the place to get and distribute apps for all of desktop Linux. It is powered by Flatpak, allowing Flathub apps to run on almost any Linux distribution.

    23 Flathub alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    Flathub screenshot 1
     

    • Flathub is the most popular Web-based alternative to Homebrew.

    • Flathub is Free and Open SourceHomebrew is also Free and Open Source
    • Flathub is Privacy focusedHomebrew is not according to our users
  15. Nix Package Manager icon

    Nix Package Manager

     27 likes
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    Nix is a powerful package manager for macOS, Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. It provides atomic upgrades and rollbacks, side-by-side installation of multiple versions of a package, multi-user package management and easy setup...

    53 Nix Package Manager alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
12 of 61 Homebrew alternatives